Annual Report FWCP Coastal Region 2016-2017
The FWCP is a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations and Public Stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by existing BC Hydro dams. Message from the Board Chair
Welcome to our Annual Report for 2016-17. This plain language document These new initiatives are in addition to managing delivery of the 41 fish reports on key highlights, decisions and expenditures between April 1, 2016 and wildlife projects approved by our Coastal Region Board. The 18 wildlife and March 31, 2017, for our Coastal Region. Annual Reports for the other and 23 fish projects represent a total investment this fiscal year of over $2 two regions, Columbia and Peace, which make up the Fish and Wildlife million. Species and habitat-based actions are the focus for the majority Compensation Program (FWCP), are also available at fwcp.ca. of projects approved by the Board, most of which are delivered by non- government organizations or First Nations, and are spread across the Our Coastal Region includes watersheds on Vancouver Island, in the Lower watersheds in which we work. Mainland, Southern Interior, and the Mainland Coast, where BC Hydro generation facilities exist. In total, 14 watersheds in some of the most Thanks to all members of the Board, Fish and Wildlife Technical densely populated portions of B.C. comprise our Coastal Region. Our work Committees, and staff for contributions to the FWCP Coastal Region during in this region is voluntarily funded by BC Hydro, which operates 14 dams this past year, and for helping to make FWCP a success. The FWCP Coastal across our Coastal Region. Region continues to evolve and I look forward to finalizing the updated Action Plans in the new year to ultimately support our vision of thriving fish Our work in this region is guided by a diverse nine-member Board that and wildlife populations in healthy and sustainable ecosystems. includes our partners: First Nations, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Public Stakeholders, and BC Hydro. Together, we work to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife impacted by BC Hydro dams. The Sincerely, Board is responsible for all funding decisions and provides oversight on our activities in each watershed. Brian Assu, FWCP Coastal Region Chair In 2016-17, a focus of the Program was on updating our Action Plans across 14 watersheds in which we operate. Activities were initiated early in the year with research, interviews, and engagement across a number of Coastal Communities occurring into the fall. Updating and refining 41 strategic planning documents into 14 documents took a big collective effort including the FWCP team, technical committees, and the Coastal Board. The Action Plans are scheduled to be completed and posted by September 2017.
Front Cover: The FWCP started live-streaming images of a captive breeding pair of Northern Spotted Owls during F17. Photo: L. Ware
FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 2 1.0 Organizational overview INTRODUCTION
The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program (FWCP) was established to As identified in the map below, the Coastal Region includes compensate for the impacts resulting from the construction of BC Hydro 14 watersheds on Vancouver Island, the Mainland Coast, the Lower dams by conserving and enhancing fish and wildlife in the Coastal, Mainland, and parts of the Southern Interior (e.g. Bridge, Seton Columbia and Peace regions of British Columbia. FWCP operates as and Shuswap River watersheds). a partnership between BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and This Annual Report provides an overview of the activities and a financial Oceans Canada (DFO), First Nations, and Public Stakeholders. performance report, as well as a project funding summary with We have invested more than $151 million since 1988, and delivered highlights from the Fiscal Year 2017 (F17) covering the period of April 1, nearly 1,750 projects in our three regions. 2016 to March 31, 2017.
Formerly known as the Bridge-Coastal Restoration Program, the FWCP’s Coastal Region was established in 1999. This voluntary initiative was developed in response to First Nations and stakeholder interests’ in addressing opportunities for restoration.
FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 3 GOVERNANCE The FWCP’s governance recognizes the regulatory accountabilities of The Lower Mainland Fish Technical Committee: our agency partners—BC Hydro, the Province of B.C., and Fisheries and Randall Lewis, Squamish First Nation Oceans Canada— and enables partnership with First Nations and Public Veronica Woodruff, Public Stakeholders. Work in each region is guided by a local Board responsible for Dave Nanson, (Chair), Fisheries and Oceans Canada setting strategic priorities and approving annual expenditures, as well as our Mike Willcox, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations investments in conservation and enhancement projects. Brent Wilson, BC Hydro
In the past year, the Coastal Region Board consisted of nine members The Southern Interior Fish Technical Committee: representing First Nations, Public Stakeholders, the Province of B.C., Elinor McGrath, Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries & Oceans Canada, and BC Hydro. We welcomed Todd Manning Brian Heise, Public as a new Public Stakeholder to replace long standing member Ken Sean Bennett, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Farquharson who retired from the Board in 2016. Andy Morris, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Arne Langston, (Chair), BC Hydro The F17 Board Members were: Vancouver Island Technical Review Committee: First Nation Representatives: Jim Lane, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council Brian Assu, (Chair), We Wai Kai Nation Eva Wichmann, (Chair), BC Hydro Larry Casper, Seton Lake Indian Band Mike McCulloch, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Fran Genaille, Peters Band Operations Public Representatives: Margaret Wright, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Vivian Birch-Jones Darren Hebert, Public Todd Manning Wildlife Technical Review Committee: Jack Minard John Cooper, Public Agency Representatives: Fraser Corbould, BC Hydro Adam Silverstein, Fisheries and Oceans Canada Dr. Brent Gurd, (Chair), B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Scott Barrett, B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Operations Kim Cox, BC Hydro Prior to November 2016, the responsibilities of overall management of the FWCP and the management of the FWCP Coastal Region were delivered by The Board reports to the Policy Committee, representing the federal one individual, Trevor Oussoren. Since then a new management structure and provincial government regulators (DFO and the Province), as well as has been implemented with the hiring of a full-time dedicated Coastal BC Hydro. The Policy Committee exists to allow the agencies to provide Region Manager, Julie Fournier. Trevor has now been able to continue the oversight on a range of fish and wildlife related issues relevant to BC Hydro overall management of the FWCP in a full-time capacity. All three regions including, but not limited to, the FWCP. are supported by Business Coordinator, Lorraine Ens. The Policy Committee members were: • Edie Thome, Director of Environmental Risk Management, BC Hydro Karen Popoff replaced Edie Thome for BC Hydro part way through the year. • Kaaren Lewis, Assistant Deputy Minister, B.C. Ministry of Environment • Cheryl Webb, Regional Director Pacific Region, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Our Board is supported by four Technical Committees—one for wildlife projects, and three for fish projects (Lower Mainland, Southern Interior, and Vancouver Island). Their primary roles are to support the development of strategic plans; provide advice on the effective implementation of Action Plans; and provide fair and objective technical review, evaluation, and ranking of fish and wildlife project proposals for the Annual Operating Plan.
FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 4 Our Coastal Region Board includes representatives from First Nations, the Province of B.C., BC Hydro, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Public Stakeholders.
2.0 FWCP strategic framework
Our strategic framework guides planning for compensation investments (i.e. fish and wildlife projects) and supports our vision.
VISION
Thriving fish and wildlife populations in watersheds that are functioning and sustainable.
An effective program will support the maintenance of healthy fish and wildlife populations in basins significantly altered by hydroelectric development. Actions taken should satisfy both the conservation and sustainable use objectives and, where possible, restore ecosystem function, making species more resilient to emerging pressures, such as climate change.
FWCP STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK Figure 2.1 • One Program Relationship between FWCP’s Strategic Framework, Vision • Common Vision & Policy Basin Strategic Plans and Action Plans. Principles • Three Basins Basin-level • Desired Future Strategic Plans Strategy Conditions
• Multiple Priorities Action Plans • Measurable Objectives, (for identified priorities) Action Coordinated Actions
FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 5 3.0 FWCP strategic objectives and strategic plans
3.1 Strategic Objectives 3.2 Strategic Plans
The strategic objectives for the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program Fish and wildlife investments in each FWCP region are guided by Action reflect a synthesis of the core objectives and mandates of partner Plans that were developed with local input and provide strategic guidance. agencies as they relate to mitigating impacts associated with hydro-power In FWCP’s Coastal Region, Action Plans exist for each of the 14 watersheds generation in British Columbia: where FWCP operates. High-level watershed Plans set out the strategic direction for the Coastal Region and describe the specific watershed Conservation settings and general impacts that the creation of the generation facilities • Maintain or improve the status of species or ecosystems of concern. (i.e. construction of the dams, the development of hydro-power, and alterations in the hydraulic regimes of the systems) had on ecosystems, • Maintain or improve the integrity and productivity of ecosystems and fish, and wildlife habitat. habitats. This addresses the concept of ecosystem integrity, resiliency, and the functional elements of ecosystems, including efforts to Each year, as the FWCP Coastal Board reviews and approves an Annual optimize productive capacity. Operating Plan, alignment with the strategic priorities identified in the Sustainable use Action Plans is of key consideration.
• Maintain or improve opportunities for sustainable use, including All projects approved for F17 align with the Action Plans. The Plans are harvesting and other uses. This objective focuses on our role in posted on fwcp.ca and each year applicants are asked to review the restoring or enhancing the abundance of priority species, and in relevant Action Plan to identify how their proposed project aligns with providing information to resource management decision-makers and supports their objectives. related to providing opportunities for harvesting and other uses. Starting in 2016, the Board initiated a process to update the Coastal Harvesting includes First Nations, recreational, and commercial Watershed Action Plans across 14 watersheds in which we operate. harvests. Other uses may include cultural, medicinal, or non- Activities were initiated in fall 2016, with research, interviews, and consumptive uses such as wildlife-viewing. engagement across a number of Coastal communities continuing in Community engagement winter and spring of 2017. The Watershed Action Plans are scheduled to be completed and posted (fwcp.ca) by September 2017, with the final • Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders and Aboriginal documents being approved by the Policy Committee in the fall 2017. communities. This objective stems from BC Hydro’s social responsibility policy, the provincial Ministry of Environment’s shared stewardship goal, and the approach of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Stewardship and Community Involvement Program. This recognizes the importance of engaging with Aboriginal communities, local stakeholders, and other interest groups to contribute toward making good decisions and delivering effective projects.
FWCP Peace Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 6 4.0 Report on performance
4.1 Results of the 2016-17 grant application intake
2016-17 marked the second year of implementation of the online grant application and management system. The Grant Management System (GMS) has allowed for administrative management efficiencies, more robust data-collection and reporting, and helps automate some of the application review process. A total of 61 applications were received for F17.
4.2 Financial report
FWCP is funded by BC Hydro through a notional fund, which is indexed to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). For F17, the annual funding budget from the notional fund for our Coastal Region was $2.051M.
Each year, our Board allocates funds, in whole or in part, toward fish and wildlife projects, administrative costs (e.g. salaries, safety, Board and Technical Review Committee expenses), project support and communication costs (e.g. Program evaluation, communications support, and advertising). These allocations form the Annual Operating Plan. Any unallocated funds are carried forward (“unspent surplus budget”), and are available for new spending in future fiscal years.
Similarly, not all allocated “committed” funds are expended by the end of a given fiscal year, due to the seasonal nature of some field-based projects. The unspent committed funds (“F16 remaining commitment to spend in F17”) is the difference between the committed funds and what has actually been spent. These funds are carried forward as a liability on the balance sheet and remain available for spending on the respective committed projects to ensure payment in full. All committed funds are associated with the fiscal year in which the spending was approved, and tracked separately.
Our financial situation in the Coastal Region at the start of F17 (April 1, 2016) included a Board-approved budget of $2.1M (Figure 4.1). In addition, a funding commitment of $917K to be spent from F16, and $218K from F15, and an unspent surplus of $24K.
$24,412 $218,340
F17 Approved Budget
F16 Remaining Committed Funds
F15 Remaining Committed Funds
$916,796 Unspent Surplus Budget
$2,096,550
Figure 4.1 FWCP Coastal Region Financial Summary at April 1, 2016
For Fiscal Year 17, the Board approved a budget of $2.1 million, primarily toward fish and wildlife projects. The Board was able to approve slightly more than the Fiscal Year 17 notional funding by drawing on funds from the unspent surplus budget from previous years. Figure 4.2 illustrates the approved Fiscal Year 17 budget at the start of the fiscal year. A complete project list for Fiscal Year 17 is found starting on page 8. Administrative costs made up approximately 8% of the total budget, including regional manager salary & expenses, office-related expenditures (support staff, Board, and Technical Committee costs), fees associated with uploading reports to the Provincial Data Warehouses ($5K), and maintenance, support, and refinements to our Grant Management System. The remaining allocations included wildlife projects (36%), fish projects (34%), land securement projects (19%), and communications (2%).
FWCP Coastal Region Annual Report 2016-17 | 7 200
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